End-gate



G. N A L R ow Y. D. D O N S, .T J.

BND. GATE.

No. 368,901. Patented Aug. 23.1887.

FII

` @mi me so ca- 'e I I UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIECE.

JAMES T. SNODDY AND PHILLIFJ. LANG, OF MOUNTPLEASANT, IOWA.

END-GATE,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,901, dated August 23, 1887.

Application filed June 16, 1887. Serial No. 241.522. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JAMES T. SNoDDY and PHILLIP J LANG, of Mount Pleasant, in the county of Henry and State of Iowa, have in- ,vented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking and Releasing Devices for End- Gates, and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appert-ains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to an improvement in locking and releasing devices for the end-gates of Wagons or gates of other character, as well as doors, the object of the same being to produce a simple and effective device that will securely fasten the end-gate in position, and one that will allow of the easy and quick removal of the end-gate from the wagon when desired.

A further object is to so construct' theworking parts of the locking and releasing device that they may be cast of malleable iron or soft steel and be assembled to form a complete device withont costly machine-work, with a consequent reduction in first cost, thereby enabling the manufacturer to produce a reliable and convenient device at a nominal cost; and with these ends in View our invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described', and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view of the end-gate in locked adjustment. Fig. 2 is a view of the same in unlocked ad'- j ustment,with the end-gate partially removed. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the gate, showing it in a locked position.

A represents an end-gate having one end partially rounded, as at a, adapted to t in the vertical groove c', formed near the rear end of the wagon-body, afforded by the attachment of two straight upright strips secured to the inner surface of the wagon-body a short distancey apart and parallel to each other. Upon the opposite side of the wagon-body these parallel strips a3 c4 are secured in position to the inner surface of the side-board B to afford a groove, a, into which the locking mechanism of the end-gate is made to enter. The inner vertical strip, c3, is made considerably thi cker than the Other parallel strip, a,which is separated from the inner strip such a relative distance that a locking-plate or thinslidebolt, O, together with the thickness of the end-gate A, will be accommodated in a manner that will presently be explained.

v The length ofthe endgate A is such in relation to the width lof the wagon-body that while its end c is in position fully inserted to the bottom of the groove c provided for its reception the vertical bottom A will engage or bear against the inner strip of the groove a.

B represents the stay-rod, adapted to engage both sides of the wagon-body and by such engagement prevent the same from spreading apart to improperly release the gate, and also to enter notches t' in the battens of the endgate to hold the gate down and prevent its rattling or bounding out the Wagon-box. VThis stay-rod may be of any well-known and approved construction.

C represents the sliding locking-plate, composed, preferably, of sheet metal and provided lThese guides consist, preferably, of metal strips having a small portion of their ends bent at right angles to form studs that enter the slots c c, as stated, the guides being attached to the end-gate by perforated ears that areintegrally formed on the opposite ends of the same. The sliding locking-plate further consists of eX- tended flanges e e', preferably made integral therewith, adapted to embrace (by folding over) the T-shaped termination of the link D. This link is pivotally secured to a handle, H, between the ears H', and is made to lie be tween the parallel limbs of the slotted shank K of this handle when the gate is in locked position. l

The shank h of the hooked handle H ter minates at its opposite end-in two laterallyprojecting trunnions or journals, 7c k, preferably formed integral and projecting at right angles with the shank h', and adapted to be embraced by extended flanges g g', formed on the bracket-plate F. The bracket-plateF consists, preferably, of a flat piece of metal having the extended flanges g g', above referred to, formed integral therewith and bent in the form of loops, that embrace the T-shaped IOO termination of the handle H to secure same in swinging adjustment. The bracket-plate is provided at suitable intervals on its body with perforations for the insertion of screws or rivets to attach it to the end-gate.

When it is desired to secure the endgate A in position on the wagon, the end a of the gate A, which is slightly rounded, is inserted in the vertical slot a and the gate swung around until its inward movement is checked by the engagement of the battens A A2 of the endgate A with the stay-rod B and the end-gate with strip a3. The handleis then pushed down, when, on account of its connection with the sliding locking-plate, it forces said lockingplate into the slotai, thereby securing the endgate in position, the toggle-connection of the handle H, link D, and locking-plate C when folded tending to hold the gate A in locked position until the handle is intentionally caused t0 swing outwardly, and thus release the locking-plate C.

The advantages of our device are manifold, inasmuch as it combines simplicity and effectiveness with durability and cheapness.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangements of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention; hence we would have it distinctly understood that we do not wish to limit ourselves strictly to the exact construction herein set forth; but,

Having fully described ourinvention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, ish

1. In a locking device for the end-gates of wagons, the combination, with an end-gate, of a sliding locking-plate provided with guides, and a self-locking handle for operating and securing said locking-plate, substantially as set forth.

2. In a locking device for the end-gates of wagons, the combination, with an end gate provided with locking mechanism consisting of aslidinglockingplate provided with guides for limiting its forward and rearward movement, of a handle secured in rocking adjustment to a bracket-plate located ou the endgate and connected to the sliding locking-plate by a bar, said handle adapted to secure the lockingplate when in contact therewith, substantially as set forth.

3. In a locking device for the end-gates of wagons, the combination, with a body having vertical grooves therein, an end-gate, and a bracketplate secured thereto and having extended langes, of a handle the trunnions of which are embraced by said ianges, and a sliding locking-plate adapted to enter one of the vertical grooves in the body and belocked therein by the contact of the handle against the locking-plate, substantially as set forth.

4. lIn a locking device for the end-gates of wagons, the combination, with an endgate, of a locking-plate made,preferabl y, of sheet metal and provided with slots near its upper and lower ends, of guide-bars secured to the endgate and engaging the slots for limiting the movement of the locking-plate, substantially as set forth.

5. In a locking device for the end-gates of wagons, the combination, with a bracket-plate secured to au end gate, of extended flanges formed integral therewith and adapted to be bent around the T-shaped termination of a handle and hold same in loose swinging adjustment, said handle provided with downwardly-proj ecting lugs or flanges cast or made integral therewith and having holes each in their bodies for the attachment of an operati ng bar, substantially as set fort-h.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES T. SNODDY. PHILLIP J. LANG.

\Vitn esses:

NV. F. BERRY, H. A. AMBLER. 

